Longtime Bellaire track coach and teacher Shawn Valloric arraigned by Zoom in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on 52 counts of pandering sexually oriented matters involving a minor or impaired person.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Longtime Bellaire track coach and teacher Shawn Valloric was arraigned in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon on 52 counts of pandering sexually oriented matters involving a minor or impaired person which are second-degree felonies.

“The first 14 are called pandering sexually oriented matters involving a minor or impaired person. Now, even though they have the same name, and even though all 14 of those are the same level of felony, being a second degree felony. There’s actually two different categories,” Common Pleas Court Judge John Vavra said. “Numbers one through seven, those are all the same. However, they are different from the subsection that is charged in numbers eight through 14. But again, those are all second degree felonies, and that means, if you are convicted, you are subject to what is called an indefinite sentence for each of those charges. If you are convicted, the court selects a number between two and eight years, once the court selects that, that becomes what is called your stated minimum term.”

He added that the maximum is what Vavra would determine within the parameter of two to eight years plus half of the number of years he decides.

Valloric could possibly receive extra time if the prison determines he displays bad behavior such as having drugs, fighting, or anything else that doesn’t comply with the prison’s rules and regulations.

Vavra said that he could also face a maximum fine of $15,000 for each charge if convicted. He would also be classified as a Tier II sex offender, meaning, once he is out of the penitentiary, he would be required to report biannually to the sheriff of whatever county he would live for 25 years.

“Now charges 15 through 52 have the same title, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, but they’re charged under a different code subsection, such that each of those is a fourth degree felony, and that means the maximum possible penalty for each of those numbers, 15 through 52 is 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine,” Vavra said, “There’s no minimum or maximum. It’s just a cap of 18 and again, a Tier II sex offender registration.”

Valloric is represented by attorney Steven A. Stickles, who then asked Vavra if bond could be lowered from $150,000 to $85,000 so Valloric could afford to pay bail to help take care of his elderly mother while awaiting trial.

Vavra denied Stickles’ request and kept bail at $150,000.

He then said that he will not be scheduling a pretrial hearing, but directed counsel to immediately and mutually exchange all of the discoverable materials.

He then set a trial date of May 12 at 8:30 a.m. in Common Pleas Court.